Li Yan-Chun, Ma Zhen, Zhong Hua-Ying, You Hai-Long
Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Front Pediatr. 2022 Nov 15;10:990944. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.990944. eCollection 2022.
Recently, there was an outbreak in China of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, the corresponding clinical characteristics of Chinese children with the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were then reviewed and summarized retrospectively.
From March to April 2022, a total of 134 children infected with the Omicron variant were included in the study. Data such as sex, age, clinical symptoms, laboratory examinations, and imaging features were collected for further analyses.
Half of the children were male and the median age was 5.67 years. The most SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was identified in mild (122, 91%), and the most three frequent symptoms were as cough (108, 80.6%), fever (75, 56%), and sore throat (38, 28.4%). Among age groups, no significant difference was observed in the distribution of symptoms, and no statistical difference was found in different clinical types among sex or age groups. Laboratory examinations revealed that white blood cells, neutrophils, and hemoglobin decreased; and monocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased. Further analyses showed that neutrophils, hemoglobin, CRP, and AST exhibited significant differences among age groups. Radiological abnormalities were found in nine cases, with small patchy high-density shadows. Of the 76 cured cases discharged from the hospital, the median hospital stay was 13 days (mean, 12 days).
In China, most children with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection have mild presentation. The findings of this study may help other districts improve the management of children with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection in China.
近期，中国出现了奥密克戎（B.1.1.529）变异株疫情，随后对感染严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）奥密克戎变异株的中国儿童的相应临床特征进行了回顾性分析和总结。
2022年3月至4月，共有134例感染奥密克戎变异株的儿童纳入本研究。收集性别、年龄、临床症状、实验室检查及影像学特征等数据进行进一步分析。
半数儿童为男性，中位年龄为5.67岁。奥密克戎变异株感染多为轻症（122例，91%），最常见的三种症状为咳嗽（108例，80.6%）、发热（75例，56%）和咽痛（38例，28.4%）。各年龄组症状分布无显著差异，不同临床类型在性别或年龄组间无统计学差异。实验室检查显示白细胞、中性粒细胞及血红蛋白降低，单核细胞、C反应蛋白（CRP）及天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）升高。进一步分析表明，中性粒细胞、血红蛋白、CRP及AST在各年龄组间存在显著差异。9例出现影像学异常，表现为小片状高密度影。76例治愈出院患儿的中位住院时间为13天（平均12天）。
在中国，大多数感染奥密克戎SARS-CoV-2的儿童表现为轻症。本研究结果可能有助于国内其他地区改善对感染奥密克戎SARS-CoV-2儿童的管理。
